Indigenously-built Tejas takes off for its maiden flight
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Bengaluru, March 18: Developing India's first ingenuously-built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fighter in the first Final Operational Clearance-standard (FOC), the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Wednesday informed that the aircraft took off for its maiden flight. The SP21 was piloted by Air Commodore K A Muthana (Retd which took-off from HAL Airport around 1230 hours for 40 minutes.
"HAL achieved the momentous feat within a record time of 12 months after release of Drawing Applicability List (DAL) and SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) by CEMILAC. It imbibes a lot of manufacturing improvements which were based on the operational feedback of LCA IOC (Initial Operational Clearance) fleet with IAF", the statement byy HAL read.
— HAL (@HALHQBLR) March 17, 2020
Meanwhile, HAL CMD, R Madhavan said that this flight signifies exemplary team work between various stakeholders of the LCA Tejas programme such as HAL, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Indian Air Force and Aeronautical Development Agency.
The first Light Combat Aircraft in FOC standard (SP-21) took to the skies for maiden flight. @drajaykumar_ias @SpokespersonMoD @DefProdnIndia @gopalsutar @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/e6Nq3AEOYX
— HAL (@HALHQBLR) March 17, 2020
The FOC aircraft is equipped with advanced features such as Air-to-Air refueling and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile system. The aircraft had received its Final Operational Clearance (FOC) in February, 2019 which meant that the aircraft was combat ready and received the 'release to service' certificate. Earlier, in last month, HAL agreed to provide Indian Air Force 83 Tejas fighter aircrafts at a reduced cost of Rs 39,000 crore.